Orange peppers are great for dogs. They are full of Vitamin A, B, E, and K, as well as Potassium, folate, and Beta Carotene. When introducing orange peppers to your dog, do so gradually to prevent digestive issues.
I’m sure you’ve felt that heart-wrenching fear when you’re eating dinner, dropping food on the floor, and your dog snatches it up. You frantically start your google searches, wondering whether the food your dog just ate is safe for them.
Well, let me put your mind at ease. Yes, orange peppers are safe for dogs to eat. However, just because something is safe doesn’t mean it’s beneficial for your dog. Let’s dive into the reasons you should or shouldn’t feed orange peppers to your pup.
What You'll Learn
Does The Color of the Pepper Matter?
The color of bell pepper does matter, but only for the amount of nutrients and not because one color is poisonous to dogs.
Bell peppers are rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E, Vitamin K, Potassium, Folate, and Beta Carotene. These are important to your pup’s overall health and immune system.
However, the most nutritious bell pepper is red, as it contains the highest amount of vitamins and antioxidants.
Listed below are the ways that these nutrients benefit your dog.
Vitamin A–Helps to maintain healthy skin and coat, strengthens the immune system, and supports vision.
Vitamin B6–Assists with hormone regulation, growth and development, and healthy brain function.
Vitamin E–Supports heart, liver, and muscle health, maintains healthy skin and coat, strengthens the immune system.
Vitamin K–Helps with proper blood clotting, supports liver health, and may help prevent osteoporosis.
Potassium–Electrolyte that regulates fluid in the body, promotes brain, heart, and muscle health, supports bone growth, and boosts metabolism.
Folate–Aids production of red blood cells and tissue growth
Beta Carotene–Helps prevent cancer and lowers the risk of cataracts.
Orange Bell Peppers
Let’s address your specific question about orange bell peppers. Yes, there are many colors of bell peppers you can buy, and they do have some differences.
Red bell peppers contain the most nutrients because they stay on the vine the longest.
The different colors are varying degrees of ripeness, which is why green is picked first and has a longer shelf life. If a bell pepper stays on the vine longer, it will keep getting sweeter and more nutrient-dense.
Therefore, orange bell peppers contain more nutrients than green and less than red.
Don’t worry, they’re all still a great option for your pup!
How Many Orange Peppers Can My Dog Eat?
As with any new food, bell peppers should be introduced slowly to your dog’s diet and only eaten in moderation until you know if your dog’s tummy can handle it.
Research shows that bigger dogs should start with less than ½ of a bell pepper, and smaller dogs should eat less than ¼ of one as any more than this could cause stomach upset.
Introducing Bell Peppers Into Your Dogs Diet
Gradually
Bell peppers make for great and high-quality doggy treats, but should not make up more than 10% of your dog’s well-balanced diet.
As with any vegetable, if not given to your dog in moderation, it can cause diarrhea, loose stools, vomiting, nausea, and possibly abdominal pain or discomfort.
Try introducing this new treat to your dog once a week in small bite-sized pieces or by putting a couple of pieces in his kibble.
Keep an eye on your pup for the next day or so to monitor any adverse reactions. If he seems okay, you can incorporate them more often (but still don’t overdo it).
Switch Up The Way You Prepare Them
Your dog can eat peppers cooked or raw, but there are specific reasons you might want to change it up.
First, your pup might have a preference of which style he likes better, or he may not like one of them at all. There are multiple ways to prepare orange peppers. You can puree, juice, cook or steam them.
Second, raw veggies are harder on your dog’s digestive system. They may not feel too good if you constantly feed them raw bell peppers.
Lastly, if you have a puppy, it can be more difficult for him to chew a crunchy, raw bell pepper when his teeth and jaw are still developing.
Helpful tips:
Remove the stems and the seeds as they are difficult for dogs to digest.
Do not cook the bell peppers in fats or oils, as these could make your dog sick.
Different Colors
As mentioned above, you can feed your dog red, orange, yellow, and green bell peppers. It won’t harm him. You can buy a variety to give to your dog for varying sweetness levels and find out which one he prefers.
Your dog might get bored easily (especially if he’s a puppy), so this should help. Plus, it’s a bonus if you can teach your dog early on to not be picky.
What You Should NOT Do When Feeding Your Dog Bell Peppers
Should You Season The Bell Peppers?
No, do not season the bell peppers. Seasonings like garlic and onion can be toxic to dogs.
You’re already introducing something new to your dog. You don’t want to overdo it by adding too much at once.
Are Bell Peppers and Spicy Peppers the Same?
The answer is no, and you should not feed your pup a spicy pepper. Don’t worry, they aren’t fatal, but your dog could suffer from painful diarrhea and a hot mouth (the same feeling you get when you eat something too hot and frantically search for milk or water).
Our digestive systems are built differently than dogs, and this is one food you don’t want to mix up.
What if You Accidentally Give Your Dog Too Much?
The most important thing you can do is to remain calm. Monitor your pup carefully. It might scare you if he’s vomiting or having diarrhea, but this is his body’s way of expelling the excess pepper.
He might be dehydrated from the vomiting, so you’ll need to make sure he stays hydrated. He may not feel like drinking water if he’s sick (you know the feeling) so keep some ice chips or ice cubes on hand so he can get some level of hydration.
If he’s still not doing well, it’s best to call your vet to check in. Hopefully the vet can help you over the phone, but you might need to take your dog in just to be safe. The vet may also offer some home remedies to try first to help settle your dog’s stomach.
Again, always call your vet to double-check if your dog isn’t getting better, but here are some home remedies you can try:
Other foods can help settle your dog’s stomach. Some common ones are bananas and canned pumpkin. Start with a small quantity and see if it helps.
Over-the-counter Pepto Bismol may help and is considered safe for most dogs, but you need to be careful about the dosing. Vets recommend 1 teaspoon of Pepto Bismol for every 10 pounds. Try putting it in a syringe to empty into the back of your dog’s mouth.
Try feeding your dog a bland diet. It’s safe for your dog to have rice and white chicken with a ratio of ¾ boiled rice to ¼ white chicken. Do not add any seasonings, fats, or oils, and give it to him a bit at a time. This is a substitute for his regular meals.
All in all, bell peppers are a safe and healthy treat for your dog (in moderation). Hopefully he enjoys them!
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